Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-05-12

ewes were red and watery. The one agn that
distinguishes infallibly tramp from every
other human being is his shoes. They are In
yariably wretched, down at the heel, split cut
and utterly hopeless. As long as hum IN
being has a vestige Of responsibility left he
proclaims it by pair OF decent shoes.
Rips foot covering, if you could call II
that, scarcely chung to his disreputable feet
He coughed hoarsely from time to time. His
arms and knees trembled. He was bent like
a man of 50. A doctor would have prophe-
sled that his body would be found on the dis
secting table of medical college in three
months time.
Rip talked aloud to himself, as most uncult
ured persons do. He looked about him as
he slouched along, now at the familiar wood,
now Mt the unfamiliar iron track Of the new
railway. He suddenly found himself almost
at the very spot where he knocked poor Sam
over. He was uncomfortable as no recol-
lected it.
@Ach!" he exclaimed, II never meant to
kill him. The old fool! Why didn't he keep
off, l hain't been here since. Twas full
eight years ago. But if them Linwooders d
ketch me even now 'twould be all up with
| Inc, l reckon. What'll l dol II l come
to Linwood, I'll be arrested II don't come
to Linwood, don't get my rights. AS fel-
ler might say, I'm between the devil and deep
sea-"
He stopped to cough, and went on with
his meditations aloud:
II didn't know these woods had been cut
away so OF l wouldn't a come yer i'll day
light. If can git where I'm agoin' before
anybody senses me, I'm all right. If can't
But | don't know what 1 wouldn't rather
do than to face Linwooder right here. I'd
rather take bath, by golll"
He saw something upon the track and
stopped to pick it up. He wavered as ho
stopped and staggered to recover himself.
Drunk agin,' by Peter!" he remarked,
coolly.
But Rip was not drunk.
The article he picked up was handker-
chief. 1t was lady's, small, snowy and very
fine. He held it up in his fingers and made a
face at it,
"Be COLL dinged, if ever see sich wipe as
that! Hello there's letters on it. Them amt
plain English My son, polish up your fancy
Iarnin' There's 'B' and there's an 'E-'B,
F.. What's that stand fur! There she comes,
by goll! steppin' along this yer blessed track
Brownie Edgerly. She walks as if the
ground wasn't good enough to hold her. Al
ways walked that way. Hay, Mlsslz-
Good God, there's the cars"
The train was behind Brownie, right upor
her, and she did not know it, There was c
roar as if the earth was rent i'll twain, anC
then darkness The evil Rip had been work
ing all his neglected life may be forgiven hin
for the good he did then.
Reader, think of him kindly, after all.
One of the sudden impulsions toward tht
better that come from some unknown realm
to the worst of men, came to Rip, and fillec
all his soul in that flash of time He dartet
forward like lightning. He nerved himsel
with all the strength that yet lay in his ono
powerful right arm, and showed Brownie of
the track to one side
At the same instant the engine struck hin
in the breast and knocked him off the othe
side. Then the monster sped on with its roa
like the wings of ten thousand angels Of dark
ness.
Rip lay quite still He did not know
, when careful hands lifted him kindly ant
carried him to the stone house. He did nc
know it still when gentle, awestricke
, voice, Shirley's own voice, said:
, "Lay the poor fellow right in there-pr
6 him on my bed"
He came to himself, and saw himself in
beautiful room, upon snowy bed. Fac
were around there that he knew, and the
looked anxious and kindly, every one. Thel
werc Shirley and Robert Edgerly, Harr
, Carstone, and the ancient doctor, now yer
old. He glanced from one to the other. The
! looked friendly.
"Don't-don't give me away" he sal
q feebly.
: "Never, Rip, never!" said Shirley. "Don
be afraid"
: A film dimmed his eyes. Blood tricklt
. . from his nostrils. He had been crushed
" ternally. Shirley wiped the blood away wi
:; a moist sponge He shuddered.
u "Dont!" he gasped. "Don't put cold wat
:, OH me. Waterll kill me-"
70 70 He looked from one to the other again, al
70 recognized Robert Edgerly. A light cal
y into his face, and half smile. He motion
. family toward the Englishman
y "Brother," said he, "will you shake han
- with me?'
~ Robert extended his fingers to humor hil
IA The tramps hand, soiled and clawlil
:. stained with God knows what blood, clasp
~ the gentleman's hand, white and shapely, a
=, held it.